The Hindu : Tobacco: Centre accused of discriminating against State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 02, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Hassan

Tobacco: Centre accused of discriminating against State

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN, FEB. 1. The Arkalgud MLA, A. Manju, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance Government of discriminating against Karnataka with regard to increasing the crop size of tobacco to "appease" its alliance partner, Telugu Desam Party.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, he noted that as more number of Andhra Pradesh representatives were there on the Tobacco Board, the growers in the State were getting a raw deal, though they were producing high quality tobacco.

There were over 25,000 unlicensed tobacco growers in the State who were paying two per cent tax on their produce, he said and added that though the price of tobacco was more than the minimum support price, the growers were loosing nearly Rs. 4 on a kg.

Stressing the need to amend the Tobacco Board Act, he said the problems of tobacco growers would dominate in the impending election to Parliament.

Achievements

Mr. Manju said that in the past four years, he had completed development works worth Rs. 100 crore by according priority to education. Works worth Rs. 33 crore had been taken up under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, he added.

The MLA said foundation stone would be laid for lift irrigation projects at Hebbale, Ganjanagoodu, and Ganganoor on Tuesday. On completion, the three projects would irrigate 3,900 acres of land.

A sum of Rs. 10 crore would be spent on the projects.

Mr. Manju said Vishnuvardhan, actor, the district in-charge Minister, H.C. Srikantaiah, and the Minister for Horticulture, M. Shivanna, would inaugurate several development works in Arkalgud constituency including the mini Vidhana Soudha, a Karnataka State Road Transportation Corporation depot, and a hanging bridge at Konanur.

The Allapatna Lift Irrigation scheme would be commissioned on the occasion. It would irrigate 1,450 acres of land. Work was on in full swing on the Kendinne, Mudigere, and Adikebommanahalli projects, he said.

He thanked the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam for taking up work on priority in his constituency. A sum of Rs. 20 crore had been spent on the modernisation of the Hemavathi Left Bank Canal while Rs. 18.50 crore had been spent on the modernisation of the Kattepura Canal, he added.

A sum of Rs. 1 crore would be spent on asphalting roads in Arkalgud town under the Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns, he said and added that commercial complexes would also be constructed.

A sum of Rs. 2.57 crore had been spent on supplying drinking water in the town, he added.

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Tobacco: Centre accused of discriminating against State